transcription, транскрипция: [ ɜ:(r)li ]
( earlier, earliest)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
Early means before the usual time that a particular event or activity happens.
I knew I had to get up early...
Why do we have to go to bed so early?
≠ late
ADV : ADV after v
•
Early is also an adjective.
I decided that I was going to take early retirement...
I planned an early night.
ADJ : ADJ n
2.
Early means near the beginning of a day, week, year, or other period of time.
...in the 1970s and the early 1980s.
...a few weeks in early summer...
She was in her early teens.
...the early hours of Saturday morning.
≠ late
ADJ : ADJ n
•
Early is also an adverb.
We’ll hope to see you some time early next week.
...early in the season.
ADV : ADV with cl , ADV n / prep
3.
Early means before the time that was arranged or expected.
She arrived early to secure a place at the front...
The first snow came a month earlier than usual.
≠ late
ADV : ADV after v
•
Early is also an adjective.
I’m always early.
ADJ
4.
Early means near the beginning of a period in history, or in the history of something such as the world, a society, or an activity.
...the early stages of pregnancy.
...Fassbinder’s early films...
It’s too early to declare his efforts a success.
ADJ : ADJ n
5.
Early means near the beginning of something such as a piece of work or a process.
...the book’s early chapters.
ADJ : ADJ n
•
Early is also an adverb.
...an incident which occurred much earlier in the game.
ADV : ADV with cl , ADV prep
6.
Early refers to plants which flower or crop before or at the beginning of the main season.
...these early cabbages and cauliflowers.
ADJ : ADJ n
•
Early is also an adverb.
...early flowering shrubs.
ADV : ADV with v
7.
Early reports or indications of something are the first reports or indications about it. ( FORMAL )
The early indications look encouraging...
ADJ : ADJ n
8.
You can use as early as to emphasize that a particular time or period is surprisingly early.
Inflation could fall back into single figures as early as this month.
PHRASE : PHR n [ emphasis ]
9.
If you say about something that might be true that it is early days , you mean that it is too soon for you to be completely sure about it. ( INFORMAL )
PHRASE : V inflects